Shooting of TV news crews sparks conversation among journalists

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU) - The shooting in Virginia that claimed the lives of two journalists Alison Parker and Adam Ward is sparking a national conversation among professional journalists as well as aspiring journalists who must now face a new reality of the dangers of the profession.

Professors at San Jose State University are using the tragedy as a teachable moment.

It’s likely the hardest lesson Bob Rucker, who is the director of San Jose State’s journalism program, has ever had to teach his students.

“I look at the students’ faces,” said Rucker. “I can see horror, sadness and are you kidding me, you want me to go into this profession.”

The former CNN reporter said he'd never thought this day would happen where a TV reporter and her photographer were shot and killed in Virginia by an alleged disgruntled colleague on live TV. Their final moments giving those in and who aspire to be in the profession pause.

“You talk to them as humans first and let them know we don't have a Superman “S” our chest so we must be more aware now that's society has changed,” said Rucker.

It’s a society now where journalists are targets across the country and even in the Bay Area. Last month, robbers targeted two TV news crews in San Francisco at gunpoint on live TV.

It’s a profession jolted used to the risks in war zones and riots but not this shooting.

"It was the morning,” said San Jose State University Journalism student Bradley Kelley. “It was a small little feature. That's not something you would assume would be threatening.”

“After seeing this,” said another student. “I’d maybe think should they have some sort of security protection with them.”

As they process what happened, the teaching turned to why these students want to be journalists.

“Our job is to make a difference,” said Arooba Kazmi who is a San Jose State Journalism student. “I think this is what these people were out to do.”

In the end, besides being more vigilant, students learned this lesson.

“Fear should never stop us from doing our job,” said Rucker.

For these students, it hasn’t.

“You can overcome fear and that's the best you can do,” said San Jose State Journalism Student Dominoe Ibarra.